Building construction



w. w. NlGHTlNGALE 3,004,302

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Oct. 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1957INVENTOR. WesleyWNighfingale BY BUILDING CONST RRRRR ON INVENTOR.WesZeyWNz'gh fin gal e BY 7 M /ML HHys.

nite at a n 3,094,302 BUILDlNG CONSTRUCTION Wesley W. Nightingale, Rte.2, Box 157, Cresweil, Greg. Filed Dec. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 706,328 6(Iiairns. (6i. 20--2) This invention relates to building constructions,and more particularly to building constructions such as may be used forforming the walls, ceiling, and/or floor of a building. The buildingconstruction is characterized by the use of a plurality ofinterchangeable unitary building components, disposed in parallel rowswith the building components of one row staggered with respect to thebuilding components of adjacent rows. The invention includes thebuilding construction, as well as the building components of which thebuilding construction is comprised.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved buildingconstruction comprised of interchangeable building components which hasrigidity and strength, and a symmetrical appearance.

Another general object of the invention is to provide an improved typeof building component useful in the construction of prefabricatedbuildings of various sizes and shapes.

A building constructed according to this invention is made up of aplurality of interchangeable unitary build ing components arranged inrows, with the building components of one row attached to those of anadjacent row in such a manner that a rigid frame is produced. Thebuilding components of a given section of a building areinterchangeable, whichfacilitates the assembly of a building and tendsto reduce the cost thereof.

Each of the building components is comprised of a pair of aligned stripstructures, fastened one to another at points spaced along their length,or more specifically, at their ends. The length of one strip structureexceeds the length of the other strip structure. Because of its longerlength, this one strip structure arches away from the other stripstructure intermediate its ends;

According to an embodiment of this invention, the arching stripstructure of a building component functions as a surface strip and theother strip structure functions as a bracing strip. When severalbuilding components are assembled together, the surface strips ofadjacent components smoothly meet each other to produce an even extendedsurface which tends to arch. In another embodiment, the shorter of thetwo strip structures functions as a surface strip, and the arching stripstructure serves as a bracing strip. if the shorter of the two stripstructures is substantially flat, when several such components areassembled together a more or less flat extended surface is produced.

The strip structure which serves as a bracing strip may be somewhatwider than the strip structure which functions as the surface strip. Theformer then may be provided with notches, whereby several components maybe fitted together in producing a frame. The latter is providedpreferably :with buttressing means whichbrace together the surfacestrips of laterally adjacent building components. 1 A further object ofthe invention, therefore, is to provide building components foraprefabricated building construction which may be employed convenientlyto construct building frames of widely differing sizes and shapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building constructionwhich, if desired, may be readily disassembled to prepare the buildingfor transportation to another'erection site. h

Still another object of this invention is to provide ice buildingcomponents for a building construction which are relatively economicaland simple to manufacture, and also possess considerable strength.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become morefully apparent as'the following description is read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective, three building componentsconstructed according to this invention arranged in two parallel rows,one of the rows containing two components and the other row containing asingle component;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the construction in FIG. 1 illustrating themanner in which the bracing strip structures may be interlocked;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, slightly simplified, of a completedbuilding constructed from a plurality of building components;

FIG; 4 is a perspective view, with portions removed, illustrating thebase of a building construction;

FIG. 5 shows a joint between the ends of two strip structures; and

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate modifications of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a description of an embodiment of thisinvention, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, 10 indicatesgenerally a building component. In FIGS. 1 and 2, three buildingcomponents are shown assembled together. Each of the building componentsiscomprised of a'connecting strip structure 11 and an arching stripstructure 12. The two strip structures are affixed. together at theirends, with the arching strip structure 12 arching away from stripstructure 11 intermediate its ends. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, strip structures 11 and 12 are each made of a singlepieceof material. Strip structure 12 isslightly longer than strip structure11, and curves between its ends in a continuous sweep. Strip structure11 extends between the ends of strip structure 12 along a fiat plane. Insome applications it may be desirable to construct the component withstripstructure 11 curving slightly between the ends of structure 12.

The ends of the strip structure are affixed rigidly to one another.Referring to FIG. 5, adjacent ends of the two strip structures may besecured together as by attaching plates 16 and 17. Each of these platesis attached to a strip structure as by screws 15. Plate 17 carried byship structure 11 is provided with a hooked-end portion 13 which seatsedge 19 of the other plate 16.-

Strip structures 11 and 12 are conveniently prepared from plywood bycutting plywood sheets into strips along their length. They may also bemade of metal or other material such as plastic, the particular materialemployed depending upon the strength required of the building componentsand their alternate use. For most buildings, plywood is quitesatisfactory, because of its relatively low cost and its physicalqualities.

The arching strip structure .12 of each component has affixed theretoalong its inner face a series of buttressing means, which are employedfor joiningthe arching strip'structures of laterally'adjacentcomponents, so that when a frame is prepared from the components, asmooth, continuous surface is formed by the arching strip structures.Thus the arching strip structures of this embodiment function as surfacestrips, whereas the connecting strip structures serve as bracing strips.These buttressing means may take the form of a plurality of rod segments21 arranged at intervals along the inner face of a strip structure 12,with their ends projecting outwardly on both. sides of the stripstructure. The ends 21a of the rod segments on one side of a strip thelug projections of one strip structure are staggered with respect to thelug projections of a laterally adjacent strip structure as shown in FIG.1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting strip structure of eachbuilding component, which functions as a bracing strip, is somewhatwider than the arching strip structure. When the arching stripstructures of two laterally adjacent components are abutted togetheredge to edge,'the connecting strip structure for the componentsoverlap.The connecting strip structures are provided with pairs of notches, suchas notches 22, 23, spaced equal distances from the ends of the stripstructures.- -In an assernbled frame, the notches formed on one side ofa component fit into the notches formed on one side of laterallyadjacent components, to form an interlocking connection between thevarious components.

.-An assembled building frame made up of the building components of thisinvention may take the form of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3. Theouter surface of the structure is a smooth, continuously sweepingsurface having generally an .arched configuration. The structure shownin FIG. 3 could be used as a complete housing unit, although obviouslyit could also be emplol l ed as a roof for a building havingconventional wa s.

The base edges of a building structure may be constructed as best shownin FIG. 4. Referring to this figure, alternate base components,indicated at 25, have half the length of the regular building componentsdescribed above. They are set with-their butt ends resting on a supportmember 26. Components 25 are each comprised of a pair of stripstructures, roughly one-half as long as the strip structures of theregular building components making up the main portion of a building.

The upper edges of the strip structures of components.

25 are afi'ixed together by attaching plates such as those illutsratedin FIG. 5. The lower edges are spaced apart as by blocks 27. As in thecase of the regular building components, components 25 include rodsegments 21 protruding outwardly on each side of the component.

In a building construction, the various building components in one roware staggered with respect to the building components of adjacent rows,as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The building components making up theouter rows of ..a building, that .is rows 28 in FIG. 3, are modified inthat the outer ends of the rod segments for these components terminateat the edges of arching strip structures 12, and the connecting stripstructures have outer edges even with the outer edges of the archingstrip structures. Cover plates 29 may then'be fixed in place along theouter sides of the structure.

The components of a building structure are held together by meansexerting a compressive force directed inwardly on the sides of thebuilding. This means or mechanism may take the form of a series ofcables 31. Cables 31 extend the length of the building, with their endsprotruding outwardly of cover portions 29. The cables are provided attheir ends with studs 32. A nut 33'is screwed on the end of each stud32. Tightening of the nuts 33 carried on the opposite ends of a cableincreases the compressive force exerted on the sides of the building.The cables prevent the building components from shifting laterally ofeach other.

:A building is anchored on support members 26 by anchoring cables 36.Each extends the length of the building, and is fastened to a supportmember as by eye brackets 37. A turnbuckle 38 is included to tighten theanchor.

frame.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate modified building components such as may beused to construct a flat surface. In this instance, the connecting stripstructure 41 of a component functions as the surface strip. The archingstrip structure 42 serves as the bracing strip. The two strip structuresmay besecured together at their ends by means of plates similar toplates 16 and 17 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated'in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 arching stripstructure 42 is made up of two strip segments, 43 and 44, respectively.These strip segments have a combined length which exceeds the length ofstrip structure 41, so that the intermediate portion of strip structures42 arches away from the intermediate portion of strip structure 41.

Arching strip structure 42 in this form of construction is somewhatwider than strip structure 41, and contains notches 46, 47 forinterlocking the building components. Rod segments 48 are fastened tothe inner face of connecting strip structure 41.

The inner edges of strip sections 43 and 44 are joined together as bylacing members 51. A bracing plate 52 may be included between the centerof strip structure 41 and the center of strip structure 43. A wedge 53inserted between the inner face of strip structure 41 and the upper edgeof bracing plate 52 provides a means for adjusting the position of thebracing plate between the two strip structures. Support portions 54, 56affixed to the inner face of strip structure 41 and projecting outwardlyone on each side of the strip structure, may also be included to addstrength to a surface prepared from the building components.

The building components, illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, are assembledto make a frame in much the same manner as the components illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5. The components are interlocked using notches 46, 47,and the components of an assembled frame are kept from shiftinglaterally of each other as by the cable mechanism already described inconjunction with the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows another modification of this invention. As in the case ofthe second embodiment discussed, an arching strip structure 61 of acomponent in this embodiment functions as the bracing strip, and aconnecting strip structure 62 functions as the surface strip. In thisembodiment, connecting strip structure 62 is curved inwardly slightly,so that a frame prepared from the components will have a concave surfacedefined by curved strip structures 62.

Strip sections 63 and 64 make up arching strip structure 61. These areaffixed together at their inner edges by means of a cleat member 65fastened to each of the strip sections, and their outer edges may besecured to strip structure 62 as by plates similar to those shown inFIG. 5. Each component'includes a bracing plate 66, and a pair ofcooperating support portions 67. Bracing plate 66 is fastened at oneedge to cleat member 65, and at its'opposite edge tostrip 62. Archingstrip structure 61 is somewhat wider than connecting strip structure 62,andcontains a pair of notches 69, 71 in each of its sides. The buildingcomponents are fitted together as shown in FIG. 9 to produce a buildingAs in the case of the other embodiments discussed, a cable mechanism isemployed ,to maintain the building components in place.

It will be noted from the above that the building components of thisinvention are suited for constructing frame structures of almost anysize and shape. The building components individually are rigid units,and when assembled together produce a rigid, interlocked building frame.For a given section of a building, the building components areinterchangeable, which tends to reduce the cost of constructing abuilding. Further, if desired, a building While there have beendescribed several embodiments of this invention, it is desired not to belimited to the specific organizations and constructions discussedhereinabove. It is intended to cover all modifications and variations ofthe invention which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and thatcome within the scope of the appended claims.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A building construction comprised of a plurality of interchangeableunitary building components arranged in parallel rows with a pluralnumber of said building components arranged end to end in each row, thebuilding components of one roW being staggered with respect to thebuilding components of an adjacent row, each of said building componentshaving a surface strip structure smoothly meeting the surface stripstructures of adjacent building components, each of said buildingcomponents also having an elongated bracing strip structure connected atits ends to the ends of said surface strip structure, the surface andbracing strip structures for each component diverging from each otherprogressing inwardly from the ends of the strip structures, the bracingstrip structure for each component having a greater Width than thesurface strip structure therefor, the bracing strip structures oflaterally adjacent building components overlapping each other.

2. The building construction of claim 1 wherein each building componenthas buttressing means protruding outwardly from each side of the surfacestrip structure for the component and joined thereto, which support thesurface strip structures of laterally adjacent building components.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein the bracing strip structure ofone building component and the bracing strip structure of a laterallyadjacent building component are overlapped by means of complementarynotches formed in each bracing strip structure which are fitted togetherto form an interlocking connection between the strip structures.

4. A building wall construction comprising a plurality of equisized andinterchangeable, unitary building components arranged in parallel rowswith a plural number of said building components arranged end to end ineach row and the components of one row staggered with respect to thecomponents of an adjacent row; said components supporting themselves bymutually forming in the wall construction triangular bracing structures;each of said components comprising an arching strip structure, and aconnecting strip structure spanning the ends of the arching stripstructure and having ends secured to the ends of the arching stripstructure; said building components being positioned in the wallconstruction with the arching strip structures of the components on oneside and the connecting strip structures of the components on the otherside of the wall construction; the strip structures of laterallyadjacent components on one side of said wall construction meetingsmoothly with each other; the strip structures of laterally adjacentcomponents on the other side of the wall construction extending acrosseach other; the triangular bracing structures being formed through thecrossing of the strip structures on said other side of the wallconstruction; and means securing together the strip structures oflaterally adjacent components on said other side of the wallconstruction at approximately the location where they cross each otherwhereby they mutually support the building components.

5. A building wall construction comprising a plurality of equisized andinterchangeable, unitary building components arranged inparallel rowsWith a plural number of said building components arranged end to end ineach row and the components of one row staggered with respect to thebuilding components of an adjacent row; said components supportingthemselves by mutually forming in the wall construction triangularbracing structures; each of said components comprising a convexly curvedsurface strip structure and a substantially flat connecting stripstructure spanning the ends of the surface strip structure and havingits ends secured to the ends of the surface strip structure; saidbuilding components being positioned in the wall construction with theconvexly curved surface strip structure on one side of the wallconstruction and the connecting strip structures on the other side ofthe wall construction; the surface strip structures of laterallyadjacent components smoothly meeting each other and the connecting stripstructures of laterally adjacent components extending across each other;the triangular bracing structures being formed through the crossing ofthe connecting strip structures; and means securing together theconnecting strip structures of laterally adjacent components on saidother side of the wall construction at approximately the location wherethey cross each other whereby they mutually support the buildingcomponents in the construction.

6. The building construction of claim 5 wherein each building componenthas buttressing means protruding outwardly from each side of the surfacestrip structure for the component and joined thereto, said buttressingmeans supporting the surface strip structures of laterally adjacentbuilding components.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,486,541 Ottosson-Elliot Mar. 11, 1924 1,974,130 Wedberg Sept. 18, 19342,297,175 Tarran Sept. 29, 1942 2,666,233 Klemm Jan. 19, 1954 2,682,235Fuller June 29, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,186 Italy Dec. 14, 1926 846,453France June 5, 1939

